Cross transfer conveyor system



Dec. 20, 1960 L. A. KUGLER CROSS TRANSFER CONVEYOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1958 NM U A m 1W. W. m m A m 6 m w W NE m \n IN o 0 Q as 5 2 uNH/ WNMHHWHHHHHHHHHHH m o a? 2 NE E. N hm N7. 3 O? o fl l u H ui L s Dec. 20, 1960 L. A. KUGLER 2,965,213

CROSS TRANSFER CONVEYOR SYSTEM Filed July 30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

70 INVENTOR. 74 72 52 54 55 Lewis A.Kugler His AHorney United States Patent CROSS TRANSFER CONVEYOR SYSTEM Lewis A. Kugler, Shelbyville, Ind., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed July 30, 1958, Ser. No. 752,055

4 Claims. (Cl. 198-21) This invention relates to conveyor systems used in steel mills and more particularly to an automatic cross transfer conveyor system having improved means for effecting a change in direction of work movement.

In conveyor systems utilized in steel mills and the like, it is sometimes necessary to move heavy work pieces in a plurality of angularly related generally horizontal directions while the work is being processed. It is of course desirable that the change in direction of work movement be accomplished automatically in order to increase the speed and efficiency of operation. One type of cross transfer conveyor system utilizes a plurality of parallel lift beams each having a work conveying chain drive extending therealong with the beams being mounted for simultaneous vertical movement. The lift beams extend parallel of and between a plurality of power driven rolls forming a roller conveyor, whereby work may be conveyed along the lift beams in one direction toward the rollers, and when over the same, the lift beams may be lowered between the rolls until the work is supported on the rolls, whereby the work will then be moved by the rollers in another direction. Subsequently, the work may be returned in an opposite direction by the rollers until it is over the lift beams whereupon the beams may be raised to re-engage the work and move the same in a direction opposite the initial direction of movement thereof.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide in a cross transfer conveying system of the type described, improved work engageable actuating means for actuating a control element regulating the raising and lowering of the lift beams, to provide automatic control of the vertical movement of the lift beams in response to movement of work along the beams into a predetermined position, and which will be effective in response to engagement thereby by work moving in one direction along the beams but which will be ineffective in response to engagement thereby by work moving in the opposite direction along the beams or in response to engagement thereby by work during relative vertical movement of the work and actuating means as may occur during transfer of the work from the rollers to the lift beams.

In one form of the invention, a control element for actuating the means for raising and lowering the lift beams is mounted on one of the lift beams. An improved control element actuating means of this invention is also mounted on the lift beams and comprises a pivoted lever movable in a vertical plane extending in direction of the lift beams and having means for actuating the control element for the lift beams in response to movement of the lever in one direction. A bell crank is mounted on the upper end of the lever with one end thereof extending angularly into the path of movement of work along the lift beams. The other arm of the bell crank is connected to one end of tension coil spring, the other end of which is connected to lift beam to urge the lever and bell crank as a unit in a direction opposite the control element actuating direction of movement of the lever. Means are provided to limit movement of the bell crank in one direction relative to the lever, said one direction of move-,

ment of the bell crank corresponding to the actuation direction of movement of the lever. The spring normally tends to maintain the bell crank in its limit of movement in said one direction relative to the lever. The lever is engageable with means on the structure supporting the rollers, during raising of the lift beams, to pivot the lever and bell crank, as a unit, in the control element actuating direction of movement of the lever to a position wherein one arm of the bell crank extends into vand is inclined relative to the path of movement of the work along the lift beams. In this operative position, the bell crank and lever will be pivoted, as a unit, o actuate the control element in response toengagement of said one arm of the crank by work moving in' one direction along the lift beams and while the bell crank will be pivoted relative to the lever in a directionopposite said one direction of movement thereof and relative to the lever in response to engagement thereby by work moving in an opposite dlrection along the lift beams or in response to engagement of said one arm of the bell crank with the bottom of a work piece supported thereover during raising of the lift beam to transfer the work from the rollers to the lift beams.

This invention will be more fully understood by ref.-'

of the actuating means of Fig. 3 illustrating the opera tion thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 4 further illustrating the operation of the actuating means.

With reference to the drawings and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, a cross transfer conveyor system of a type with which this invention is concerned is generally indicated at 10 and comprises a plurality of elongated parallel lift beams 12 each having a chain drive 14 extending along the top for support and conveying of work along the lift beams. Chain drive 14 is reversibly driven by suitable means, such as, for example, a gear motor, not shown. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lift beams 12 are supported for vert'cal movement by means of a plurality of rods 16 depending from the beams with each rod, as shown in Fig. 2, being slidably supported in guides 18 which are fixed to a supporting frame 20. A sprocket 22 is rotatably mounted on the frame 20 and is connected to a shaft or sheave 24 on which is wound a p'urality of chains 25 one end of each of which is connected as at 26 to a rod 16 at the bottom thereof. While the view of Fig. 2 shows only one such chain associated with a rod 16, it is apparent that a chain 25 will be associated with other rods 16. A chain 28 is engaged around the sprocket 22 with one end thereof connected to the piston rod 30 of a hydraulic cylinder 32. As will be apparent, movement of the piston rod 30 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 will result in counterclockwise rotation of the sprocket 22 to raise the rods 16 and thus the lift beams 12. Conversely, movement of the piston rod 30 to the left will result in lowering of the beams. As will be apparent, corresponding mechanical arrangements may be provided in association with the rods 16 positioned along the lengths Patented Dec. 20-, 1960 of the lift beams as indicated in Fig. 1, to effect simul-- taneous operation thereof.

With particular reference to Fig. l, the lift beams 12 extend parallel to-and between a plura ity of rollers generally indicated at 34, the rollers forming a portion of a conveyor extending at right angles to the lift beams. The lift beams 12 also extend parallel to and respectively between a plurality of rollers, generally indicated at 36; forming another conveyor extending at right angles to the lift beams. Means, not shown, are provided for driving the rollers 34 and 36' through pulleys 35 and sprockets 37, respectively. To better understand the operation and purpose of this invention, a description of the operation of the structure thus far described will be helpful. The lift beams are initially positioned above the rollers 34 and 36 and work is moved along the lift beams in the direction of the solid line arrow of Fig. 1 from a position to the right of rollers 34 as shown in Fig. 1. As the work moves over the rollers 34, it engages but does not actuate the lever 164 of actuating means-38 and continues to move along the lift beams until positioned over the rollers 36 where it engages lever 64 of actuating means 40 also connected in any suitable manner to operate the hydraulic cylinder 32. Upon engagement of the work with the lever 64 of actuating means 40, the lift beams are lowered until the work is engaged by the rollers 36 whereupon the work will be moved in the direction of the dotted-line arrow of Fig. 1. Subsequently, with the lift beams 12 raised and the direction of chain drive 14 reversed, the work will be carried to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 in a direction opposite the solid line arrow in Fig. 1. The work will then be moved along the lift beams until it is over the rollers 34 whereupon it will engagethe lever 164 of actuating means 38 so as to effect lowering of the lift beams to engage the work with the rollers 34 for movement of the work in the direction of the dotted-line arrow of Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the actuating means 38 and 40 are carried by the lift beams 12 and pivot in a direction parallel thereto so as to be actuable only by work'moving along the lift beams 12 in the requisite directions. It must be understood, however, that other suitable switch means, such as a conventional limit switch, not shown, will be carriedby the frame which holds each set of rollers 34 and 36,- and will be actuable by work passing along the rollers in the required directions to cause the lift beams 12 to rise and lift the work from the rollers as the work reaches the respective ends of the rollers overlying the lift beams 12. Thus, actuating means 38 and 40, carried by lift beams 12, are operable only to lower lift beams 12, while the other conventional switch means, not shown and not forming a part of this invention, operate to cause the raising of the lift beams 12 and actuation of the conveyor chain 14 in the requisite direction, where upon travel of the work along the lift beams is commenced and operation of the actuating means 38 and 40 takes place in a manner hereinafter described.

In accordance with the invention, the actuating means 38 and 40, although facing in opposite directions, are identical in structure and accordingly only the actuating means 40 is shown and will be described in detail. With reference to Fig. 3, the actuating means 40 of this invention comprise a lever 42 pivotally mounted on a base 44 fixed in a suitable manner to one of the lift beams 12. The base is provided with elongated mounting slots 46 to permit adjustment thereof longitudinally of the beam. The lever 42 is formed by a pair of links 48 joined at one end by pin 50 pivotally mounting the links on the base 44. A cam 52 is mounted on the pin 50 and engaged between the pivoted ends of the links for movement therewith and has a cam surface 54 engageable with a plunger 5,6 .o f a control element 58 mounted on the lift beam 12.

A bell crank 60 is pivotally mounted betweeen the upper ends of the links 48 and is provided with a lug 62 engageable with the edges of the links to limit movement of the bell crank relative to the links in a counterclockwise directlon as viewed in Fig. 3. The bell crank comprises a pair of arms 64, 66 with the arm 64 being adapted to extend into a path of movement of work along the lift beam for engagement with the work. The other arm 66 is connected at one end to a tension coil spring 68, the other end of which is connected to a flange on the base 44. The cam 52 is provided with a surface 70 which is engageable with a shoulder or abutment 72 on the supporting frame 74 for the rollers 36 so as to pivot the lever 42 and crank 60, as a unit, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, as the lift beam 12 is being raised relative to the rollers. In the counterclockwise pivoted position of the lever 42, the arm 64 of the bell crank will extend angularly into the path of movement of work along the lift beam and in a direction generally opposite the initial direction of work movement along the beam as indicated by the solid line arrow of Fig. 3. With the lever 42 and bell crank 60 in this operative position, the spring 68 will tend to maintain the bell crank in its counterclockwise limit of movement relative to the lever 40 with the stop 62 engaging the lever 42. The spring also urges the arm 66 of the bell crank, and accordinglythe lever 42, in the direction opposite the initial direction of work movement along the lift beams and resiliently restrains movement of the bell crank and lever 40, as a unit, in a counterclockwise control element actuating direction.

As shown in Fig. 4, as work W is moved along the lift beams 12, it will engage the upper arm 64 of the bell crank to pivot the bell crank and lever 42, as a unit, in a counterclockwise direction so as to actuate the control element 58 which is connected in a control circuit, not shown, to actuate the hydraulic cylinder of Fig. 2 to effect lowering of the lift beams. As will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 5, if the work is being returned on the rollers 36 over the lift beams 12, the work may be located above the actuator 40 when the lift beams are raised. The rounded free end of the arm 64 of the crank will engage the bottom of the work so as to cause the bell crank to be pivoted in a clockwise direction against the force of the spring 68 and relative to the lever 42 to preclude actuation of the switch element 58. The actuating means 38, as heretofore mentioned, is identical with the actuator 40, just described, but is mounted on a lift beam in reverse orientation from that shown for the actuator 40, as-shown in Fig. 2, so that the work engageable arm 164 of the bell crank will, when the actuator isin operative position, extend angularly into the path of movement of work along the lift beams but in the direction of initial movement of work along the beams rather than in the opposite direction asin the case of actuator 40. In this manner, as work is returned along the lift beams in a rightward direction as viewed in Fig. 1, the arm 164 will be engaged by the work to pivot the actuator 38 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and actuate the associated control element 158. Correspondingly, during initial movement of the work along the lift beams 12 and to the left, as viewed in Fig. l, the bell crank of the actuator 38 will be pivoted, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and relative to the pivoted lever 142 mounting the same so as to preclude actuation of the associated control element 158.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art; various changes and modifications can be made in the structure described and shown in the accompanying drawings without departing from the, spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the-structureillustrated and, de: scribed shall be considered in an illustrative sense and 5 not aslimiting the invention, it being the intention that the invention is to be. limited only by the appended claims which shall include within their scope all structure which shall logically fall within the language of the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a cross transfer conveyor system having intersecting first and second work supporting means for supporting work for movement in a first generally horizontally extending direction and then in a second angularly related and generally horizontally extending direction, means for providing relative vertical movement between the work supporting means for alternate positioning of the supporting means one above the other to effect transfer of work therebetween including lift means for effecting said relative vertical movement: a control element for actuating the lift means supported by one of the work supporting means; and means for actuating the control element including a work engageable control member supported by said first work supporting means for movement in opposite directions in a vertical plane extending in said first direction and adapted to extend into the path of movement of work along said first supporting means, means resiliently restraining movement of the control member in both of said opposite directions, and means on the control member engageable with said control element for actuation thereof in response to movement of the control member in one direction, said control member being constructed and arranged to provide for movement thereof in said one direction in response to engagement thereby by work moving along said first supporting means in said first direction when said first supporting means is positioned above said second supporting means and to provide for movement thereof in its direction of movement opposite said one direction of movement thereof in response to engagement thereby by work moving along said first supporting means in a direction opposite said first direction when said first supporting means is positioned above said second supporting means and in response to engagement between the control member and work supported over said control member by said second supporting means in response to relative movement between the supporting means to position the first supporting means above said second supporting means.

2. In a cross transfer conveyor system having intersecting first and second work supporting means for supporting work for movement in a first generally horizontal direction and then in a second angularly related and generally horizontal direction, means for providing relative vertical movement between the work supporting means to eifect transfer of work therebetween including lift means for effecting said relative vertical movement: a control element for actuating the lift means supported by one of the work supporting means, and a control element actuator for actuating said control element supported by said first work supporting means including a pivoted lever mounted for movement in opposite directions in a vertical plane extending in said first direction and having means engageable with said control element to actuate the same in response to movement of the lever in one direction, a work engageable second lever pivotally mounted on the first lever for movement in opposite directions in said plane and adapted to extend into the path of movement of work along the first supporting means, spring means urging said second lever relative to said first lever in said one direction of movement of said first lever, means limiting movement of said second lever relative to said first lever in said one direction, said second lever being engageable by work moving along said first supporting means in said first direction when said first supporting means is positioned above said second supporting means to effect simultaneous pivoting of the first and second lever as a unit in said one direction'and being engageable by work moving along said first supporting meansin the directionopposite said first direction whensaid firstsupporting means is positioned above said second supporting means and by work positioned over the second lever during relative 'vertical movement of the work supporting means to position said first work supporting 'means. above said second work supporting means to effect pivoting of the second lever relative tov said first lever in a direction opposite said one direction. 3Q In a cross transfer conveyor system having intersecting first and second work supporting means for supporting work for movement in a first generally horizontal direction and then in a second angularly related and generally horizontal direction, means for providing relative vertical movement between said work supporting means to alternately position one above the other to effect trans fer of work therebetween including lift means for effecting said relative vertical movement: a control element for actuating the lift means supported by one of the work supporting means, a lever pivotally supported on said first work supporting means for movement in opposite directions in a vertical plane extending in said first direction and having means engageable with said control element to actuate the same in response to movement of the lever in one direction of movement thereof, a bell crank pivotally supported on the lever and having a first arm adapted to extend into the path of movement of work along the first supporting means and a second arm extending in a direction generally opposite said first direction, a spring connected between said second arm and first supporting means urging said second arm in the direction opposite said first direction, means limiting pivotal movement of the bell crank relative to the lever in said one direction of movement of said lever, and means on said first arm engageable by work moving along said first supporting means when said first supporting means is positioned above said second supporting means to tend to effect pivoting of the bell crank in said one direction of movement of the lever so as to provide actuation of the control element, and means on said first arm engageable with work moving along said first supporting means when said first supporting means is positioned above said second supporting means and engageable with work positioned over the bell crank during relative vertical movement of the work supporting means to position the first supporting means above said second supporting means to efiect pivoting of the bell crank relative to said lever in the direction opposite said one direction of movement of the lever.

4. In a cross transfer conveyor system having intersecting first and second work supporting means for supporting work for movement in a first generally horizontal direction and then in a second angularly related and generally horizontal direction, means for providing relative vertical movement between said supporting means to alternately position one above the other to effect transfer of work therebetween including lift means for effecting said relative vertical movement: a control element for actuating the lift means supported on one of the work supporting means; a control element actuator including a base adjustably mounted on said first work supporting means, a generally vertically extending lever pivotally mounted on said base for movement in opposite directions in a vertical plane extending in said first direction and having means engageable with said control element to actuate the same in response to movement of the lever in a direction corresponding to said first direction, a bell crank pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said lever at the upper end thereof and having a work engageable first arm adapted to extend into the path of movement of work along the first means and a second arm extending in a direction generally opposite said first direction; a tension spring connected between the free end of said second arm and said base means and urging said free end of said second arm in the direction opposite said first direction of work movement; means limiting movement of the bell crank relative to the lever in a direction corres'ponding to said first direction, and means on the second supporting means engageable with means on said lever during relative vertical movement of the supporting means to position said first supporting means above said second supporting means to pivot the lever a predetermined angular distance in said one direction in opposition to said spring and into a position wherein said first arm of the bell crank extends angularly of and into the path of work movement along said first supporting means and in the direction opposite .said one. direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS T 

